210 Comments
User's avatar
User's avatar
Comment removed
Mar 7
Comment removed
Expand full comment
Freda's avatar

Ya know, sometimes it's Spell Correct which is totally incorrect!

Expand full comment
Simon Rosenberg's avatar

Yes, that one - rein not reign - did make it through the spellchecker but it is updated now on the online version. As regular readers now I write this thing fresh every morning and there will be mistakes. I don't have an editor as it would slow down the process too much. Love you all!

Expand full comment
Chris Dwyer's avatar

Simon can we get a reminder how to purchase a gift subscription per your requested actions?

Expand full comment
Deborah Potter's avatar

It's the blue bar at the top right of the Hopium homepage or scroll up to the top of the chat. Direct link

https://www.hopiumchronicles.com/subscribe?utm_source=menu&gift=true&next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hopiumchronicles.com%2Fp%2Ftrump-has-a-week-of-retreats-and%2Fcomments

Expand full comment
Chris Dwyer's avatar

Thank you, that worked! I see that while the button says "Upgrade to...", once you click it you can then move between Individual, Group and Gift.

Expand full comment
Emily H's avatar

Glad you caught the homonym issue over “rain🤓”

Expand full comment
Karen Meneghin's avatar

Happy Birthday Hopium and a HUGE thank you to Simon and each one of you fighting onward!

Expand full comment
Freda's avatar

Happy Hopium! Thank you for this gift, Simon!!!!!!!!! By coincidence, my older sister's BD is also March 7, and she is my leader and mentor in all things activist in creating a better world for everyone. A good good day!

Expand full comment
Punkette's avatar

Happy Birthday to your amazing sis! 🌹

Expand full comment
Freda's avatar

Thank you! She's the one who sent me the Pink Slip campaign email for an action to take! Love her so much.

Expand full comment
Punkette's avatar

She sounds just wonderful, as do you, dear Freda! I too am lucky to have an amazing sister, and we keep each other going! 👯‍♀️

Expand full comment
Freda's avatar

We are really lucky indeed! "Sisters, just a couple of sisters..."

Expand full comment
Beth Kephart's avatar

Happy Hopium Day! Congratulations, Simon!

Expand full comment
Lyn Gerry's avatar

Self-reporting. I am info-warring. I always ask myself how we got into this mess in the first place, and I think it begins with bad ideas.

https://open.substack.com/pub/moralitymademeanatheist/p/why-government-run-like-a-business?r=9xdq6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Expand full comment
Freda's avatar

GET LOUD, GET MEDIA! Send DT a PINK SLIP! Pink postcards flooding the WH, to be mailed on the Ides of March, saying "You're Fired!!" or "Dump Yourself!" or however the hell you want to tell him to get out - my sister ordered 1000, which we're splitting and hosting postcard Dump the Trash parties, and then mailing all on 3/15!! I'm going to send one @ to my Representatives, telling them I want them to give him the Pink Slip https://www.dwcmarco.org/event-details/the-ides-of-trump-postcard-mailing-campaign

Expand full comment
Lyn Gerry's avatar

OK I love this

Expand full comment
Leon Rubis's avatar

I hate to throw cold water on anything that irritates, embarrasses or opposes the Mad King, but I'm sure he has already told the P.O. to not deliver these to the White House and/or has told the mailroom workers to immediately dispose of them. It just seems like wasted effort. I'd rather see postcards sent to voters.

Expand full comment
Freda's avatar

Thx for that thought - not sure he can do that but then.....In which case, send to Reps saying "Fire Trump!" or "Dump Trump!". I think the point is to make noise, get public attention, even post your pink slips on social media front and back to hold Reps or DT accountable. Sending pink slips like this can engage others, encourage unity, AND get a grim laugh.

Expand full comment
Jenny Ellsworth's avatar

You are not wrong, but I think I can spare five minutes to do an extra postcard. It might feel good to write one with my darker feelings instead of the attitude of unity and support I fight to maintain.

And while we should be clear we aren’t being threatening with the Caesar reference, we can certainly send angry words on the Ides of March. As far as I know, criticizing and even insulting the orange one is still legal.

Expand full comment
Michael G Baer's avatar

Protected by the 1st Amendment of the Constitution, as a matter of fact.

Expand full comment
Jenny Ellsworth's avatar

Yes, it is rather sad that I no longer consider Constitutional protections a given. But perhaps it is good that I stopped taking for granted that the Constitution is the law of the land.

Expand full comment
Michael G Baer's avatar

I must disagree whole heartedly, Jenny

We have to reclaim the Constitution and make it live again. Use it or lose it. I think part of what we are learning is a rennaissance of respect for the constituional order and our need to protect it. If our faith in that founding document is not renewed on the other side of this mess, we will, sadly, repeat all this sh*t again.

Expand full comment
Michael G Baer's avatar

oops misread that, you too are saying we can't take it for granted as we have in the past. Gotcha

Expand full comment
Ann W's avatar

Just ordered national parks picture postcards to mail to Trump on 3/15. My message will be: “TO SAVE OUR PARKS … YOU’RE FIRED”.

Expand full comment
Freda's avatar

GREAT idea! Send cards with American flags on them, or with the first words of the Declaration of Independence on them, etc. and repeat your phrase - "TO SAVE OUR (...).....YOU'RE FIRED."

Expand full comment
Susan Dieterlen's avatar

LOVE THIS!!! Spreading the word! I know several people who shrink from any other kind of activism, but they have and will send postcards

Expand full comment
ArcticStones's avatar

How about:

"We know who you are – and we know what you did. Our photos prove it. We’ll be in touch."

– Boris & Vladimir

Expand full comment
Freda's avatar

That should go on a death mask funeral post card - white rimmed in black.

Expand full comment
Jayne M's avatar

Congratulations on your 2-year anniversary! 🍾🥳🎆

Expand full comment
Jennifer Meeker's avatar

Simon, where do you get your polling info? I've used 538 for composite polling checks, and was not surprised but thrilled to see a couple days ago his approval composite had gone underwater - as you say, a major drop since inauguration. Then I saw Disney, the corporate owner, is shutting 538 down. Is there somewhere else doing this work? Thanks!

Expand full comment
Elizabeth T.'s avatar

I tried to find 538 to check this out and was taken to ABC news.

Expand full comment
Leon Rubis's avatar

Same here. The bookmark I had saved to 538's polls now takes me to https://abcnews.go.com/politics. I guess they've already shut it down.

Expand full comment
Anne Fitzpatrick's avatar

Somewhere I read the ABC decided to disband(?) 538. I guess they have a DOGE department too.

Expand full comment
Heather's avatar

Can you speak on Gavin Newsom's podcast?

Expand full comment
Freda's avatar

Is he positioning himself for a Presidential run? Moving to center where he can?

Expand full comment
Carolyn from IL's avatar

I'd like to know who is this mythical "moderate" or "middle" voter? Two-thirds of Americans already agree with Democratic Party positions on a long list of issues.

Expand full comment
Freda's avatar

That's a great article and answers my questions. It was clear, convincing, articulate analysis - i signed up for Framelab. Thanks, Carolyn!

Expand full comment
Mike Davis's avatar

Happy Birthday, Hopium! Great work, Simon!

I keep doing my Hopium work - contacts, donations, etc. But I had to take a mental health break from the YouTube videos, the national news, etc. And trying to get over what I saw as a disorganized response to the Trump's speech. Democrats should not be governed by late-night comedians, but they do serve a purpose letting the leadership know which way the wind is blowing. I hope the Democrats figure out a forceful unified strategy for the upcoming fight over the Continuing Resolution.

Expand full comment
Freda's avatar

My fave, Jimmy Kimmel, has been on fire and my nightly arm-pumper!

Expand full comment
Punkette's avatar

Yes! Jimmy K and Stephen Colbert have been killing it! 😆👍🏼

Expand full comment
WiseAssumer in Las Cruces's avatar

Happy birthday, Hau`oli la hanau, to Hopium.

In fighting TRUMPMUSKvance we have to keep our heads up and facts straight. A PAC I work with call Trump "illegitimate" and president 'in name only" even though it was a fair election. Hopefully another member will correct her so I don't have to.

Expand full comment
David E Kolva, MD's avatar

Report from Aurora, CO: Last evening, my wife and I attended an evening presentation in Denver featuring Anderson Cooper from CNN as part of the Colorado Speaker's Series at the Bellco Theater that seats 5,000 people.

He discussed the DOGE firings of "probationary" hires. These included recently promoted long-term employees (not just new hirings in their first year) because by law they are "probationary" in their new higher positions! These include some of the most experienced, senior positions in all branches of science, national security and health. Cooper also discussed the devastating effects of the USAID cuts that will impact Africa and the absolute incompetence of the DOGE actions.

The outrage in the audience was palpable and sustained. Since Trump is incapable of apology, and is not smart, he will own this outrage which will continue to grow.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston also made an appearance and got a standing ovation for his brave appearance in Washington the day before!

Expand full comment
Kate Feldman's avatar

Happy Birthday to Hopium and congratulations Simon. Talk about plucky patriot! You are really an inspiration! Things are cracking! Robert Reich has a good newsletter today summarizing the current 10 good things. It's great to see we are all on the same page about the good, the bad and the ugly. Keep on everyone! Thanks for all the great resources and really creative ideas for action!

Expand full comment
AnnD's avatar

Happy Hopium Birthday. Proud to be here since Day 1. I look forward everyday to your insight and calls to action. Thanks for all you do!

Expand full comment
Deborah Potter's avatar

🎂 Happy 2nd Birthday, Hopium Chronicles!!! 🥳

💓 🥰 Thank you, Simon Source of Hope. 💙 😍

Expand full comment
Julie Fisher Melton's avatar

A quote about Renaissance despots to celebrate your birthday, your sense of irony and your love of history! FromJacob Burckhardt, written in the 1850s,

"Misfortune is foretold to all who enter the service of the despot, who even becomes at last himself an object of pity: he must needs be the enemy of all good and honest men, he can trust no one and can read in the faces of his subjects the expectation of his fall. As despotisms rise, grow and are consolidated, so grows in their midst the hidden element which must produce their dissolution and ruin. "

Expand full comment
David Salzillo's avatar

Where is this quote from? Do you have a link, or preferably something I can refer back to? I would like to post it (IG, Stories), but can't find it anywhere.

Expand full comment
Julie Fisher Melton's avatar

Don't have a link, but the book, by Jacob Burckhardt, is called The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy. The paperback was published by Penguin in 1990 and 2004.

We are, coincidentally, off to Rome today to visit our jr year abroad grandson, so you will have to find the online link. Thanks, and please put it in your comments.

Expand full comment